Develop Bugs

Heres the age old question of using task killers on Evo

Has anyone seen any benefits in using task killers or managers on the Evo? Has it helped or made battery life worse ? Do we even need them with the Evo ?

in my experience the phone runs smoother if you keep running tasks to a minimum. i have an app called ES Task Manager and it comes with a widget that has one touch kill all. i hit that and turn off the screen when i'm not going to be messing with the phone for awhile.

I used to use Advanced Task Killer (ATK) and loved it until one day my phone would not work whatsoever. It kept force closing HTC Sense and I had to do a hard reset last week. It was very upsetting and the sprint technician said the task killer was to blame.

I agree. I switched from Advanced Task Killer to ES and it's great. Really helps out battery and smoothness. I can get about 12-16 hours per charge when doing that with normal use.

What's ES?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

I use Damage Control 3.2.2.1 with its built in killer set at 150 MB with Advanced Settings Part 2 Laptop_OOM activated and JIT. Banned everything except Facebook.
Then I use autostarts to stop programs from starting up at boot, speeding up boot time and using less power.
Credits go to TheBiles.
I can usually get about a day and a half of regular use before I reach 10%.

Best tip? Don't use any task killers..
At most use autostarts and thats it.

b1indsided said:
What's ES?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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I have become an believer in task killers - I use ES ( search market for: estrongs )
Increased battery life and smoothness, just make sure to not have it kill the HTC processes and you'll be good

b1indsided said:
What's ES?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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Estrongs task manager

Task killers are a bad idea on Android. It's best to just let the OS do its own memory management. The only reason to use a task killer is as a last resort for a rogue app or something like that.
There's a thread about this around here with a detailed explanation as to why this is true and how memory management works in Android. I can't copy and paste because I'm sending this from my phone. And I'm lazy.
Autokiller and autostarts are probably the only two apps that make sense to use and this is to enhance management, not override the built in management like task killers do.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Ugh this is why I hate the debate.
Some people say use it... some people say Android's memory management is fine.
My ATK usage is simple. I close programs that I do not use and won't start any FC's.
So basically after I'm done playing a game, I use ATK to close out of it.
I leave most things open unless it's like Sprint Zone or something.

I decided to be less lazy for once.
http://geekfor.me/faq/you-shouldnt-be-using-a-task-killer-with-android/
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

simply put, if you have any linux experience you'll realize why task killers aren't neccessary like in a windows mobile platform device.

I use ATK. As far as battery life, I haven't seen an increase or decrease, but the phone runs smoother and sometimes an app gets stuck, so I kill that sob off.

Use Autostarts only. It is a permission manager--not a task-killer.
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Sent from my HTC EVO 4G using Tapatalk Pro.

mgraham361 said:
I decided to be less lazy for once.
http://geekfor.me/faq/you-shouldnt-be-using-a-task-killer-with-android/
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
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That article is bogus. If you analyze the evidence and the conclusion presented there, it's a non sequitur.

Your mom is a non-sequitur.
That article is a total sequitur xD
You need to be more explicit.
Sent from my Evo 4G

I tried ATK since the BB Mobile guys were pushing hard for you to install it before you even left the store with the phone. I gave ATK an honest try, and experimented with most of the settings. At the end of the test, I found that ATK didn't really help me. That being said, my battery life is much better now since I moved for the rooted stock image to Fresh 0.3.

myersn024 said:
I tried ATK since the BB Mobile guys were pushing hard for you to install it before you even left the store with the phone. I gave ATK an honest try, and experimented with most of the settings. At the end of the test, I found that ATK didn't really help me. That being said, my battery life is much better now since I moved for the rooted stock image to Fresh 0.3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heh, BB Mobile reps always act like they're experts. These guys know less than the average XDA forum reader. They'll have you think otherwise though!

As much as I disliked the idea of not managing my own processes, be it by manually killing them or with some automatic thresholds, after some reading, I decided to let Android handle things as it was designed to do.
To satisfy my itch for being "in control", I downloaded (from the market, for free) an app called MinFreeManager, which allows for you to tweak the parameters for Android's memory management. I also read a suggestion from Flipz to use AutoStarts to better control what apps are starting, and when. AutoStarts basically lists events within Android and allows you to toggle if an app should run or not.
That said, I've noticed my Evo has been very smooth and responsive. I periodically open TaskKiller to see how much available memory there is and to be nosy. The truth is that apps do clean up and are disposed of properly by Android. Give it a shot for a few days. What's the harm?

Using ATK and just said I have 148m Avail.... WTF

So ever since i did the OTA 2.2 it keeps running more apps in the background. I have my ATK set up "Crazy" and shut apps down when screen is off. But i cant keep it above 180ish. Is there something im missing??

Yeah, task managers don't work in Froyo! Lol! Little known fact. Basically, the Android team got tired of the abuse of task killers and made them defunct. They'll stop processes, but they just restart. You never needed one, and with Froyo, it has better memory management and other things that completely negate any benefit task killers might have brought. To stop a malfunctioning app, use the built in task manager. Settings>Applications>Manage Applications and go to the running apps tab. Select the app you want to manage and hit Force Stop.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Wish it would just fully stop. Well Im gonna do it (root) when someine has it available for 2.2

I uses taj killers and noticed some slowing now that I have gotten rid of the task killer I have had better battery life and better speeds. Just let Android manage your apps and quit closing apps that don't need to be closed. Closing an app through a task killer will do some damage just like you should not force close an app on a computer unless it locks up on you.
Sent from my EVO using XDA App

you can run a task preventer (I like "autostarts") to keep those apps from even starting in the first place.
Also if you want to have the system kill tasks more aggressively you can scale up the lowmemkiller. You can do this manually by echoing whatever values you want to the lowmemkiller file (more on that if you want to know) or there are apps that will do it for you. I don't know which on the market will do it, I run damagecontrol and DConfig has a lowmemkiller adjustment

Do we need any kind of task manager or killer?

I see that people have those apps running; its in the status bar.. but is recommended? I just want to make the use of the phone to run on its max without performance loss, as we all. But before, in other forums.. Froyo didn't need any of that... ??????
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

I use auto memory manager..
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

no, they're not needed. the OS will handle that got you and if you do need to kill an app or service, you can do it in Settings > Applications.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Android is pretty good at battery and performance management so not really.

Ok thanks..i just see pictures of the apps being runand I just wonder if we need it or why people use them.. Or is it just because to make them feel better
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

I use a task manager, back in the day with the g1 it really helpped out saving bettery life im not so sure how much extra life I'm going to get with the g2 but we'll see
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

I think it is needed seeing as how apps just start and run on their own.

AreOh said:
I think it is needed seeing as how apps just start and run on their own.
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Yeah, just once in a while kill some programs, and you'll be fine.

gaarry said:
Yeah, just once in a while kill some programs, and you'll be fine.
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Sure but you dont need a task killer to do that. Just go to Settings - Running Services and then just touch whatever service you want to kill.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Just in case you haven't seen this:
As long as you aren't put off by rooting for some reason, the following thread can help you disable all applications of your choosing from booting up (and the settings stay after a reboot). Goodbye Photobucket and Amazon.
Edit: Err, forgot to add: following that, you will rarely ever need to kill any processes, as the unwanted ones should be off anyway.

task killers usually just kill your available resources:
http://lifehacker.com/5650894/andro...ed-what-they-do-and-why-you-shouldnt-use-them

But is it true that in g2 u can not kill ana app like in older version, u have to force stop? I find my self doing that.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

U don't really need a task killer. I don't anymore. I just force stop only the apps that hang or stop responding other than that what's the point of killing an app if its just gonna start back up. 2.2 does a really good job of memory management anyway. If u don't want an app running in the background temp root and uninstall it.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

From what I remember reading, in Froyo their Kill API is handled different in such that the application/service isn't really "killed" it just restarts.
I could be wrong, but my understanding is that memory management and simply just management as a whole is much better in Froyo. I only use a task manager just to see what's running. If something does go haywire or hangs, then I'd step in. Otherwise, I just like the information being displayed; makes me feel like I know what's running back there.

This is from the developer of Mobile Defense:
"Note, we do not recommend installing task killer applications. These type of apps have the ability to kill other running applications with the promise of freeing memory. Not only are these apps unnecessary but they also waste battery and introduce instability by killing necessary processes. Google Android Engineers and leading Android developers are beginning to speak out against task killer apps:
hxxp://geekfor.me/faq/you-shouldnt-be-using-a-task-killer-with-android/
hxxp://droidtalk.net/should-i-install-a-task-managerkiller-on-my-android-device/
hxxp://android-developers.blogspot.com/2010/04/multitasking-android-way.html
And my favorite, with Cyanogen Twitter quotes:
hxxp://androinica.com/2010/05/07/google-and-cyanogen-comments-imply-task-killermanager-apps-are-pointless/
Even the developer of Advance Task Manager admits that it's not needed on new devices!
Arron La, developer of Advance Task Manager, suggests that task killers are more important for legacy devices like the G1 and phones running older versions of Android.
“Task Managers were absolutely needed in the past before the new services UI came out in Android 2.0 or 2.1,” La said in an e-mail. “Task Managers had a niche of allowing users to quickly kill services associated with apps – including all the other stuff as well, such as alarms – but that was the only way to do it before the introduction of the new services UI.”

Task killers only cause problems and eat up your battery.

Taskillers only for Android < 2.1
On Android 2.1 and later there is no need for task killers, the OS handles memory and apps much more efficiently than in older versions of Android.
Task killers were needed for the best performance on Android before 2.1 but overusing them could be detrimental to performance also.
My general rule is no task killers on 2.1 and later versions but sparring use of task killers on anything earlier.

To me taskers kill ur battery because they r always running. I use hot reboot it restarts the phone from bootscreen not from the slash. So it takes me about 14 too 17 secs to restart my phone. Sense i use my phone for almost everything. Rebooting to kill all apps and start from fresh is good for me sense it takes no time to do so.
sent from the moon on my Evo 4g

[Q] Cyanogenmod7 and task killers?

Quick question, using a task killer with Cmod7 has the same effects as using it with froyo (faster battery draining, instability etc.) or it's safe to use? I noticed that running apps (those in the background and useless) makes my wildfire lag, but when i close some of them (that really shouldn't have any reason to stay open) it starts again to run smoothly...
So, should i or should i not install a task killer?

I personally use a task killer, I don't set it to autokill and just use it to help manually kill apps that I don't need in the background.
I couldn't cope without one.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA Premium App

I don't use one, I have 180+ free MB on my wildfire on CM7 (not using that many apps or widgets).
I would not advice to use one, but if your wildfire lags than you can perhaps indeed close an app now or then (as I did when i was back on stock ROM and it bacame laggy sometimes). Make sure it's an app that is not used by any other program (like a game or so) and that doesn't matter if closed or not

what you must understand is that Android does not use memory (RAM) like a PC does, keeping apps "open" in the background is actually a good thing, as they can be opened a lot quicker, and "full" memory does not slow the phone down as Android has pretty good task managing abilities of it's own, and does not need any help or intervention. Using task killers will only slow down your phone, cause issues, and give you worse battery life. The best thing you can do to your phone is to not install a task killer.

I understand how it works, but disagree slightly with what your saying..........
I have always used advanced task killer pro, like I said not set to auto kill.
I have never had any issues with battery or my system slowing because of it and I have used it on just about every rom there is, the reason I use it is after a while I'd say a few hours using my phone it starts to slow because of all the apps laying dormant in the background and I don't feel the built on model deals with them like I personally would. So instead of using the built in android task manager which does take a while if there's a lot of apps there that don't need to be using task killer is much quicker to close all the useless ones. I think if it was set to autokill it may cause problems with some apps and battery but used wisely it keeps my system flowing nice and smooth.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA Premium App

Well, thnx guys for the replays, I guess I'll not install a task killer, but in doubt, I'll continue to kill obsolete and not necessary processes when lagging..

[Q] task killers?

Hey, I noticed that in the screenshots section that everyone has a task killer, aren't they bad for android? I've read that they were needed for android 2.1 and down, not after Froyo.
So, do I need one? Why? Why not?
Thanks guys.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA

ajt1995 said:
Hey, I noticed that in the screenshots section that everyone has a task killer, aren't they bad for android? I've read that they were needed for android 2.1 and down, not after Froyo.
So, do I need one? Why? Why not?
Thanks guys.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA
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Click to collapse
samsung roms (even stock) have default task killer called "Task Manager", for active apps and if you go to Settings > Applications > Running Services, you can kill apps running in the background or cached processes. The difference is, the default tasker does not have a "Kill All" feature.
Task killer is, well not recommended, because Android has "Low memory Killer" feature, which, from the word itself, Android will kill apps as memory is needed.
It's still up to you if you want the default tasker, or a 3rd party one.

I hate that Samsung put that there. I've always been told that you let android do its job, unless there is a runaway process.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA

If you ask me a task killer gets you more battery life and helps reduce data usage by killing apps that you are not acctually using.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA

yes but even if you kill some apps they reopen on their own. I am referring to the stock Rogers rom and that dam AP program.

the reason task killers are considered bad is becausw most people blindly kill everything. your phone has a lot of tasks it will automatically relaunch, thus wasting more processor time in the end. if you pay attention to which processes these are and exclude them from your kill list, you can safely use a task killer.
i also suggest apps like autostarts, lots of stuff like to start that dont need to.
im newly registered but not new here! just picked up a glide yesterday and put cwm/osi on already. a keyboard is a must for me and this was the nicest phone i found with one. my d1 was overdue for retirement. i use sipgate/google voice for free calling, texts and vms (wifi) so thankfully carrier didnt matter. very happy with this thing so far. cant wait to see some ics roms?

Advanced task killer shows you which apps automatically restart and lets you disable them from being killed
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA

Automated task killers generally are bad voodoo because they interfere with Android's own memory management system. Android micromanages memory like you wouldn't believe, and task killers will only slow things down by interfering with it. In particular, you'll lose significant performance and battery life as the phone works harder to reopen apps that could have just been sitting around in otherwise unused memory as intended by the OS. (And of course, the auto-re-open thing mentioned above.) I used to keep a task killer on my OG to troubleshoot misbehaving apps (sometimes killing the process and forcing it to restart would right some issues), but now that Android has the running services dialog, there really is no need for task killers at all.
bobbinthreadbare said:
my d1 was overdue for retirement.
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So I'm not the only one upgrading from an OG!

roothorick said:
So I'm not the only one upgrading from an OG!
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Click to collapse
It was an excellent phone. Mine finally locked up the other night while I was out and totally died. Doesn't even get the M Moto symbol when you start it up. It had been dropped countless times, entirely submerged in a puddle, whiskey spilled on it. But it soldiered on until the other night. I was even running a very broken ICS ROM (dead project now) on it and it was just as fast CM7. I ran it constantly at 1GHz which impressive for a phone that was stock 550Mhz. Most phones, even the Glide, you can't overclock by more than double like the D1. The fastest kernel I ever had on it, I had edited a version of ChevyNo1's 1.2Ghz kernel to allow 1.3Ghz. I ran it like that for a few days and it was stable.
Great phone. It truly deserves a burial at sea with a 21 gun salute.